Telescoping scraper



Sept. 7 1926.

v 1,598,864 R. G. LE TOURNEAU TELESCOPING SGRAPER Filed Dec. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R. 6'. Le Tourneau BY (9mg! fitam A R. G. LE TOURNEAU TELESCOPING SCRAP-ER Filed Deb. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 9 mm mm mm .mn mm n 7 INVENTOR 12.6.14? Tourneau Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,864-

R. G. LE TOURNEAU TELESCOPING SCRAPER Filed Dec. 28. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/III/IIIIIIII; IIIIII. 'IIIII/IIIIIIIII III/III! l\ INVENTOR Toarneau ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT G. LETOURNEAU, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

TELESCOPING SCRAI E'ER.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 77,941.

porting and drawbar connecting means; a-

1" more efficient structure for expanding and telescoping the scoops, and for causing the dirt to be expelled with such telescoping movement; and a more positively acting catch and releasing structure for insuring that the scoops when-being drawn out will move in predetermined successive order.

lVith my improved features great strength and facility of operation of the scraper are obtained without any increase in the complexity of the'structure, and without anyincrease in weight of the parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present construction will become evident on a perusal of the'following specification.

These objects I accomplish'by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the scraper with the scoops extended and in a load-can rying positio Fig. 2 is a similar view with the scoops teles'coped and in scraping position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the scoops and endg'ate in telescoped positions.

Fig. 4. is a plan view of the scoop extending and latch structure taken on the lin 44 of Fig. 3 looking down.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section of a scoop showing its frame bearing roller, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

' Referring now more particularly tothe characters of reference on the drawings, the

numeral 1 denotes the longitudinal side frames of the scraper, preferably of box section and formed of two angles welded together, as indicated in Fig. 5. It may here be remarked that all the main beams of the present structure are of similar formation, sincethis shape of beam provides the greatest strength and resistance to torsional and other strains, combined with a minimum weight.

These frames are pivoted intermediate their ends onto the frames 2 of endless track trucks 3 of suitable character, the construction of these trucks forming no part of my invention.

Heavy drawbars 4, converging together at their forward ends to form a clevis 5 for attachment to the draw-head of a tractor are pivoted onto the frames 1 adjacent the connection of said frames with the trucks, and extend thence upwardly so that intermedlate their ends said drawb'ars are a considerable distance above the frames l.-

Rigidly welded to the forward ends of the frames 1, which are ahead of the trucks 3, is the forward scoop comprising side members 6 depending between the frames and a bottom plate 7. The forward end of this bottom plate'terminates rearwardly of the forward ends of the sides and carries a transverse cuttin blade 8 along such forward edge. Rein orcingmelnbers 9 extend upwardly from the sides of the scoop adjacent the front end of the bottom plate and-are connected at their upper-ends, a certain distance above the sides, by a transverse beam 10. Side teeth 11 are fixedonto the sides 6 and point downwardly at an angle ahead of the blade 8 so that when the scoop is lowered to the ground, said teeth will engage the ground about at the same level as the blade 8, but to the sides of and somewhat ahead of the same, These teeth therefore cut or loosen the dirt :to the sides of the blade and prevent the ends .of the latter, and the adjacent edges of the sides of thescoop, from being worn round as is usually the case.

On each side of thescoop a brace'12 ex tends upwardly from the corresponding tooth '11 along the side of the scoop to a connection "with a vertical beam 13 which projects upwardly from the adjacent frame 1 at or nearthe point of pivotal connection of said frame 1 with thetruck' frame. Another brace 14 extends from the top of said beam 13 to the rear end of the frame 1.

Said frame is therefore trussed against vertical deflection. Also it will be seen that said frame and the front scoop form a rigid unit, turnable on the pivotal connections of said frames with thetrucks. K

The frames and scoop are, raised and lowered relative to the drawbar- 4 by means of vertical racks 15 connected to the side plates 6, each rack being engaged by a pinion 16. The pinions are driven by an electric motor 17, there being suitable reduction gearing between the motor and pinions enc osed in the housing 18. The housing, motor, and. pinions are mounted as a rigid unit on the drawbar structure in any suitable manner. Mounted for longitudinal movement of the frames 1 and for telescoping movement with each other and with the front scoop, are a plurality of scoops 19, eachone of course slightly narrower than the others, and with their bottom plates 19 successively higher than the one ahead. The scoops 19 are also successively longer than each other from front to rear, so that when the forward edges of their bottom plates are alined with each other and with that of the plate 7,

4 bearings for the pin 24 of the roller.

the rear ends of said scoops 19 will project beyond each other an equal distance.

To prevent telescoping movement of the scoops beyond 'such position, the outwardly projecting portions of the bottom plates of the scoops are provided with transverse angle members 20 projecting below each bottom .plate between the frames 1, said angle members abuttin against each other when the scoops are fully telescoped.

Each scoop 19 at its rear end has vertical beams 21 on the outside of the same, which beams extend between the scoop and the frames 1 and revent lateral movement of the scoop relative to the frames. Mounted in connection with each beam 21 is a roller 22 which rides on the correspondingframe 1, the-roller being enclosed in a housing 23 which provides suitalile T 1e forward end of the bottom plate. of each scoop rides on the bottom plate of the adjacent scoop ahead, so as to scrape dirt therefrom, while being free to move upwardly if undue resistance to its contact with the scoop plate below is encountered.

Movable along-and between the rearmost scoop 19 is a vertical endgate 25 rigidly mounted on a horizontal frame 26. This gate rests on the bottom plate 19 of said rearmost scoop, but the frame 26, extending rearwardly from said endgate, is supported from the frames 1 by a roller 27 on each side of the same engaging the corresponding frame 1 and mounted in a manner similar to, the rollers 22.

Mounted on the frame 26 is a reversible electric motor 28, which, through suitable reduction gearing enclosed in a housin 29, drives a transverse shaft 30, on the en s of which outside the lateral plane of the scoops are pinions 31. These pinions engage horizontal racks 32 extending lengthwise of the frames 1 and rigidly supported therefrom in parallel and vertically spaced relation thereto.

It will therefore be seen that when the scoops and endgate are fully extended, and

the scoops are loaded; if the motor is then run in one direction, the scoop adjacent the forward section will first be telescoped on than vice versa, because when all the scoops are loaded the weightof the dirt in the forwardscoop of course offers less resistance to the telescoping of the adjacent scoop than the weight of the dirt piled up in front of the other scoops and endgate.

To enable the motor to pull out the end gate and the scoops one by one after they have been'telescoped, I provide the follow ing structure:

Mounted in the different members 20' between the bottom flanges of the same and the bottoms of the corresponding scoops are arms 33. These arms are pivoted at one end on fixed vertical pins 34, which are located on the longitudinal" center line of the scoops. These arms when .the scoops are telescoped, extend transversely of said scoops or are then folded in the members 20.

Pivoted at one end on the different arms intermediate their ends and extending thence to the pins 34 are links 35, the rearmost of these links being pivoted, onto a draw head '36 depending from the rear end of the endgate frame 26.

It will therefore be seen that when the endgate moves rearwardly the corresponding arm'and link 33 and 35, respectively, will be extended. WVhen the endgate is moved to its rearmost position relative to the rearmost scoop, which position is determined by, the overall length of said arm and link, the pull is taken by the pin 34 of the rear scoop, the corresponding arm and link are then extended and the endgate and said rear scoop then move rearwardlyvas 'a unit and so on.

The vertical portions of the members 20 are of course slotted longitudinally so as to enable the links and arms to pass from one to the other and to be extended with the extending of the scoops. The total length of the arm and link pairs between adjacent pins 34 increases from front to rear, corresponding to the greater length of the respective scoo s.

To revent each 1i and arm from beingexten ed into straight alinement with each other, such as would cause a, dead center action between said arm and link to be obtained, a block 38 is mounted at the free end sponding link 35 before the latter forms a straight line with said arm.

To prevent any scoop from being ex.- tended out of'turn I provide'a stop means Jassociated with the arm and link structure. This to means comprises a pair of vertically allned arms 39 individually pivoted onto and under the bottom plate 7 of the forward scoop, and extending rearwardly thereof on the opposite side of the center line of the scoops fromsaid arms and links. Mounted inthe members and located between the pins 34 and arms 39 are vertical stop blocks 4OI These blocks are triangular in cross section in a horizontal plane with their apices at their forward ends and with their rear faces extending transversely of the scraper.

The free rear end of one arm 39 has a roller 41 disposed rearwa'rdly of the rearmost block 40 when the scoops are telescoped. This roller is mounted on a vertical axis which is normally located in a transverse plane in the path of movement of said block, theroller being vertically alined with the block. This arm and roller controls the rearward movement of the two rear scoops. .A roller 42--is mounted on the other arm 39 and is similarly positioned rearwardly. of the rear one of the forward pair of blocks 40, and controls the rearward movement of the front pair of scoops.

Springs 43 connected to the arms 39 tend to prevent their movement from the above described positions. It will therefore be seen that if the rear scoops should tend to be extended ahead of the endgate for instance the block of the rearmost scoo would abut against the roller 41,:Whicl1 would prevent the rear scoop from moving rearwardly, since the catch arm 39 is connected to the immovable frcnt' scoop.

I release this roller so that it may pass over the different stop blocks in successionbymea-ns'of projections on the arms 33, in the form of rollers 44, these rollers bein arranged to each engage and move the rol 4 ers 41 and 42 laterally away from the different blocks, when each arm and, link unit becomes outstretched.

The firstand third blocks 40 from. the front are a short distance from the corresponding rollers 42 and 41 so that the corresponding scoops can move that distance out of order before being stopped. This could be overcome by providin a stop arm and roller for each stop bloc but the advantages would not be suflicient to warrant mountingthese additional parts, since the distance the scoops can thus move beforebeing restrained is but a few-inches.

Current for the motors is provided from all any suitable source, such as from the tractor pulling the scraper, as contemplatedin the structure shown in the patent 136136111 before referred to. The motor 28 has considerable travel but current can be supplied thereto by flexible cables, trolleys, or otherwise, such as is done in various arts.

It will be noted that the strain of pulling is taken directly by the main frames 1 intermediate their ends and the level of the drawbars 4 is maintained substantially conof the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail maybe resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus. described my invention what I claim as new and useful and. desire to se cure by Letters Patent is:

1. A scraper including a frame structure, a-forward scoop fixed thereon and open at both ends, another scoop disposed rearward- 1y of said fixed scoop and movablelength- Wise in the forward scoop, and anend-gate structure movable along the rear scoop lengthwise thereof.

2. A scraper including side frames, a dirt ing trucks on which thp frames are pivoted intermediate their ends, and a drawbar structure independent of but connected to the-.frames adjacent their connection with the trucks and extending ahead of the frames. 7

3. Anscraper including a frame structure, a scoop fixed thereon and open at, both ends and an end gate structure normally disposed to the rear of said scoop and movable lengthwise therealong in a constantly maintained position relative to a vertical plane toward the forward end of the scoop. v

4. A scraper including side frames, a dirt carrying element fixed thereon, ground hearing trucks on which the frames are pivotedintermediate their ends, a dnawbar structure pivoted onto the frames intermediate their ends and extending ahead of said frames, the dirt carrying element being at the front end of the frames, and the draw-' bafbeing above said frames, a driven pinion on the drawbar, and a rack engaging the pinion and extending downwardly to a pivotal connection with saicl dirt carrying element. 1

a 5. A/scraper including side frames, a forward scoop fixed thereon, andopen at both ends,/otli.erscoops disposed rearwardly of :00 carrying element fixed thereon, ground bearsaid fixed scoop and movable. along the frames for telescoping movement relative to each other andto the fixed' scoop, and an endgate structure movable along the frames ,ends other scoops disposed rearwardly of said fixed scoop and movable along the frames for telescoping mbvement relative to each other and to the fixed scoo an endgate structure movable along the rames disosed within the rearmost scoop for movement lengthwise therein, and means for moving said endgate structure mounted thereon.

7 A scraper including side frames, a forward scoop fixedthereon, and open at both ends,.other scoops disposed rearwardly of said fixed scoop and movable along the frames for telescoping movement relative to each other and to the fixed'scoop, an endgate structure movable along the frames disposed within the rearmost scoop for movement lengthwise therein, a rack mounted on one of the side frames outwardly of the scoops, a pinion mounted on the endgate structure engaging the rack, and driving means for the pinion mounted on the endgate structure.

8. A scraper including side frames, a forward scoop fixed thereon,-and open atboth "ends, other scoops disposed rearwardly of said fixed scoop and movable along the frames for telescoping movement relative to each other and to the fixed scoop, an endgate structure movable along the frames disposed within the rearmost scoop for movement lengthwise therein, means for thus moving said endgate structure, means whereby with such movement in one direction the scoops will be successively telescoped into each other, and means whereby with the movement of the endgate in the opposite direction the scooops will be successively drawn out p from each other.

9. A scraper including side frames, a forward scoop fixed thereon, and open at both ends, other scoops disposed rearwardly of said fixed scoop and movable along the frames for telescoping movement relative to each other, and to the fixed scoop, an endgate structure movable along the frames disposed within the rearmost scoop for movement lengthwise therein, means for thus moving said endgateestructure, such movement causing the scoops to be successively telescoped into each other, and foldable arm and link units between the various scoops and endgates and arranged to be extended when the endgate moves in the opposite direction.

10. A structure as inclaim 9, in which means is provided to cooperate with said units to cause the extending movement there -of-to take place in predetermined successive to each other and to the fixed scoop, an endgate structure movable along the frames disposed within the rearmost scoop for movement lengthwise therein, means for thus moving said endgate structure, such movement causing the scoops to be successively telescoped into each other, foldable arm and link units between the various scoops and endgates and arranged to be extended when the endgate moves in the opposite direction, the bottoms of the movable scoops extending beyond each other rearwardly somewhat when the scoops are telescoped, stop-blocks on such extending bottom portions, arms mounted on the fixed scoop and projecting rearwardly therefrom, catch members on said armsdisposed rearwardly of and in the path of correspondin stop blocks, and release members mounte on the different arm and link units and positioned to successively engage and release the corresponding catch members when said arm and link units are extended in successive order.

13. A scraper including a frame structure, a forward scoop fixed thereon and open at both ends, another scoop disposed rearwardly of said fixed scoop and movable lengthwise in the forward scoop, an end-gate structure movable along the rear scoop lengthwise thereof, and means for moving said end-gate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT G. LETOURNEAU. 

